The Best Books of My Life Book Report
"The best book I will never reread."
I turn thirty today. My gift to myself is this Substack, a project I’ve been secretly wanting to take on but have been intimidated by for the past months. My twenty-ninth year has been full of upheaval and closed doors. The result is that now, for the first time in my life, I am absolutely directionless. My thirties are an unknown territory with no landmarks. But I want my first day in this decade to be one where I did something brave. So hi, my name is Esther and this is my Substack.
In honor of turning thirty, I've curated a list for you of the best books published in my lifetime. Each book is accompanied by a quick blurb as well as a one-star review that made me laugh. Let’s get started.
The best books from 1995 to 2025
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Diasporic family saga. “History has failed us, but no matter.” is the opening line that will haunt me to the day I die.
Convincing you to read it with a stranger’s one-star review:
“Unfortunately I found it a terrible bummer.” - ktsn
Babel by R.F. Kuang
Fantasy academia. I read this book once a year and it has yet to disappoint. Perfect if you think footnotes are sexy, still fantastic even if you don’t.
Convincing you to read it with a stranger’s one-star review:
“Sis hasn't gotten over her Hunger Games phase, it seems".” - MoonstoneOwl
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
The situationship book. Dedicated to the romantics who let a summer fling almost wreck their entire lives. For the “You’re On Your Own, Kid” and “Down Bad” girlies.
Convincing you to read it with a stranger’s one-star review:
“Who even goes to [community theatre] plays??” - Chapters_with_Claire
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Literary ghost story. I read this book in a single day, because my body would not let me relax until I knew how it ended.
Convincing you to read it with a stranger’s one-star review:
“Maybe it was just too subtle for me.” - William
Trust by Hernan Diaz
A novel within a novel. This book plays with the way in which storytelling distorts the truth, set in the mansions of the Gilded Age.
Convincing you to read it with a stranger’s one-star review:
“Joint winner of the Pulitzer Prize, which doesn’t suggest American fiction is in a very healthy state.” - Paul Fulcher
Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan
On coming of age during war. This book won the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction and the Women’s Prize for Fiction, and I still think it’s underrated.
Convincing you to read it with a stranger’s one-star review:
“This was just sad.” - Sue
Atonement by Ian McEwan
For the ex-gifted kids. The best book I will never reread. Nor will I watch the movie, even if it does feature Keira Knightley in *that* green dress.
Convincing you to read it with a stranger’s one-star review:
“I hope Ian McEwan spends the rest of his life atoning for writing this stupid book.” - Dan
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Pandemic dystopia. This book asks what happens when survivors just want to play music and perform Shakespeare in an apocalyptic world.
Convincing you to read it with a stranger’s one-star review:
“If my options were dying in the apocalypse or surviving and joining a post apocalyptic traveling theater, I choose death.” - Tom
Where Reasons End by Yiyun Li
A conversation on grief. Who knew conversations about etymology and falling leaves could be so devastating?
Convincing you to read it with a stranger’s one-star review:
“How many American teenagers bake???” - Sean
James by Percival Everett
Retelling of a classic. I hated The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but James was so good I reread it to see if I would change my mind. (Spoiler: I did not.)
Convincing you to read it with a stranger’s one-star review:
“ALL white people are evil and ALL black people are PHD level orators and dream in French.” - Mike
Many of these books are character-driven stories about ordinary people in difficult situations that are out of their control. In the past few months, I’ve grown increasingly anxious about personal as well as national and systemic problems over which I feel I have little control. I have so much love for these fictional people doing their best with the cards life has given them. This upcoming week, I hope you and I can have as much grace and compassion for ourselves as well.
this week’s favorites:
“Death Wish (Live from The O2 Arena)” by Gracie Abrams
Living for the 1 star reviews as reasons to read these books!
1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ESTHER!
2. I am so so excited for your Substack and rooting you on
3. You chose the perfect one-star reviews of your favorite books 😂